Red Deer Rebels forward Jeramiah Roberts’ first WHL goal on Wednesday night might go down as one of the best first goals ever.
In a matter of seconds, he not only left 6,000-plus fans at the Centrium in awe but surely solidified himself as a front-runner for the WHL goal of the year.
Late in the third period, Roberts found the back of the net to tie the game 2-2 against the Medicine Hat Tigers.
Forward Ollie Josephson fed the rookie who was left alone in front of the Tigers’ net and pulled off a spectacular move. While skating by the front of the crease Roberts deked the goalie by putting his stick between his legs and firing it through the right side of the net.
Even Roberts himself is still in shock.
“I don’t really remember it. I’m still kind of in awe about it,” Roberts said on Thursday.
“But I saw the opening and saw he baited over way too much so I thought I’d try a little something.”
The 16-year-old from Colorado Springs, Colo. said he’s worked on the move a few times in practice but has been unable to pull it off in a game. That includes last season where he played back home for the U15 AAA Colorado Rampage.
“It’s pretty unreal to do it in a game,” he said. “I tried it once [in Colorado] but it didn’t work out in my favour.”
Roberts was immediately embraced by his linemates who were just as excited as the Rebels faithful who came out to support the team for their biggest home crowd this season.
“It was a really nice goal,” said captain Kai Uchacz after the game. “He’s been working hard and in practice he likes working on those creative plays so it was good to see that from him.”
Roberts didn’t expect it to go in but was happy with the praise from his teammates.
The goal even got some national attention after the popular hockey podcast Spittin’ Chiclets by Barstool Sports shared the video of the goal across their social media platforms.
The post on X.com got over 90 thousand views alone in less than 24 hours.
— Spittin' Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) December 28, 2023“I didn’t really know it was going to be a big deal but seeing that when I got home it felt pretty unreal,” he added.
Roberts has appeared in just seven WHL games in his rookie campaign. He returned for the final two games before the Christmas break after being out of the lineup since October with a concussion.
It was also his first recorded WHL point.
“It felt nice to get that off my back knowing I have one on the board,” he said.
Head coach Derrick Walser said Roberts has worked hard to return to the lineup.
“We all know he has talent, he’s a good player, and he has a creative mind. It was nice seeing him get his first one of the year,” Walser said.
Since his return, Roberts has been paired up on the fourth line alongside fellow rookies Evan Smith and Matthew Gard. The trio has logged valuable minutes together over the last few weeks.
“It’s amazing. They play just like me so we click and have a good bond going. We hope to keep it up and go from there,” Roberts added.
“It was really tough seeing my team out there when I wasn’t playing but I just knew when I got back I’d do everything I could to stay in the lineup.”
Roberts was selected by the Rebels in the first round, 14th overall in the 2022 WHL U.S. Priority Draft, and was later signed that summer.
Last season he posted 48 points in 60 games with the Rampage and added seven points in four playoff games.
After appearing in last season’s training camp, Roberts came back to Red Deer with aspirations of making the roster. He did so with flying colours.
“I came into camp knowing I had a 50-50 chance like everyone else so I just had to outcompete every person on the team and my time came,” he said.
With just over half of the regular season remaining, Roberts and the Rebels hope to finish strong. They’ll start this weekend with a game in Lethbridge on Friday night against the Hurricanes followed by the Swift Current Broncos on Saturday.
“We just have to fight as hard as we can and never back down from a fight.”
